John 1:1-18

I have decided that we should undertake a task of going through the bible verse by verse. Seems impossible, not really, it has been done before. The aim is to ensure that everyone actually reads and understand the word of God. If I can’t get you to read it, I will read it with you. Sounds fun. Let’s start with the Gospel of John and make our way through it. Ready? Go!

John 1:1-18 (ESVST)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In the beginning means before all time. The word existed, this same word was with God and this word was God. The word “word” is a Greek word meaning “logos” which means a word, saying or speech. All we know from the first verse is that there was a word from the beginning and this word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

Then verse 2 starts with the word “He”. This he was in the beginning with God. Now at this stage, it is not clear wether the word “He” refers to the word “Word” that was referred to in verse 1. All we know at this stage is that the word and he were there from the beginning and the word was God. There is no way at this stage one can associate the word “word” and the word “he”.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Whoever this “he” is, all things were made through him and nothing was made without him.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Whoever this “he” is, there was life in him and that very life was the light of men. This light shines in the darkness and darkness has not overcome it. This light is clearly powerful than the dark. At this stage we still don’t know who this “he” is.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

Verse six tells us that there was a man called John, who was sent from God. He came to bear witness about this light so that all may believe in him but, he was not the light himself.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

So, now we know that this “he” whom we know to be the light, is the true light and gives light to everyone. We already know that he is the light that shines in the darkness and darkness has not overcome it and now, we know that he gives light to everyone. We also know that this “he” was coming into the world, was in the world and the world was made through him. This repeats what was already said in verse 3 that all was made through him. This verse continues to say that the world did not know him. This indicates at this stage that John is referring to the past. He is simply saying this “he” through whom all was made, who was there in the beginning, who is the light that shines in darkness for everyone and who has not been overcome by darkness, did come into the world and the world did not know him. So, whoever this “he” is, was in the world.

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

As verse 10 state, he came to the world already and the world did not know him, now we know that not only did they not know him, they also did not believe him. They did not recieve him because they did not know him. John continues to say but to those that received him and not only that but, also believed in his name, he gave them the right to become the children of God. What kind of children? Not those that were born of blood or the will of the flesh or the will of man but, the type of children that were born of the will of God.

At this stage we know that this “he” through whom all was made, who was there in the beginning, who is the light that shines in darkness for everyone and who has not been overcome by darkness, did come into the world and the world did not know him. So, whoever this “he” is, was in the world. We also know that those that received him and believed in him, he gave them the right to be the children of God, born of the will of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Now in verse 14, we again see the “word”, and John says this word became flesh. All we know about the word at this stage is that it was there in beginning, it was with God and it was God. Now we know that this word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. John continues to say we have seen his glory. Now here, John uses the word “his” to refer to the “word”. This is where most people connect the “word” with “he”. This is where most people say that the “he” that John has been referring to, is actually the “word” itself. When John refers to the “he” from verse 2-13, John is actually referring to the “word” in verse 1. The word and he is the same thing. That is correct.

If so, we can say that this “he” who is also the “word” that was with God and was God, through whom all was made, who was there in the beginning, who is the light that shines in darkness for everyone and who has not been overcome by darkness, did come into the world and the world did not know him. So, whoever this “he” or this “word” is, was in the world. We also know that those that received him and believed in him, he gave them the right to be the children of God, born of the will of God. So, this word that was with God from the beginning and was God, became flesh and dwelt amongst us. Now we know that this word that was God, became a he and dwelt amongst us.

John continues to say, we have seen his glory, glory only that the Son of the Father can recieve, full of grace and truth. I like the way the amplified translates it

John 1:14 (AMP)

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving- kindness) and truth.

So, this he or this word that became flesh, had such glory as only the son of the father can recieve. This glory was full of grace (meaning was full of unmerited favour) and truth.

15 ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, “ This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me. ’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

In this verse John says that this is he whom he bore witness about. This is the one who he said he comes after me but ranks before me, why? Because he was before him. Here John emphasing that this “He” was there before he was. John continues to say from his fullness, we all have received grace upon grace, meaning ever ending grace. The word fullness also mean abundance. In his abundance, we have received unlimited grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father ‘s side, he has made him known.

The law was given through Moses at Sinai but grace and truth through Jesus Christ. The word that became flesh and dwelt among us had the glory only that, that can be recoeved by the son of the father. This glory was full of grace and truth. Now we see here that grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Therefore the word that was God and was with God from the beginning and became flesh and dwelt among us was Jesus Christ himself because thie same word was also full of grace and truth.

So we know know that Jesus Christ was with God and was God, through whom all was made, who was there in the beginning, who is the light that shines in darkness for everyone and who has not been overcome by darkness, did come into the world and the world did not know him. We also know that those that received him and believed in him, he gave them the right to be the children of God, born of the will of God. So, Jesus Christ was with God from the beginning and was God, became flesh and he dwelt amongst us.

No one has seen God except for Jesus Christ who is and always was and always will be at God’s side. Jesus Christ made God known to the world.

So in summary, we know know that Jesus Christ was with God and was God, through whom all was made, who was there in the beginning, who is the light that shines in darkness for everyone and who has not been overcome by darkness, did come into the world and the world did not know him. We also know that those that received him and believed in him, he gave them the right to be the children of God, born of the will of God. So, Jesus Christ was with God from the beginning and was God, became flesh and he dwelt amongst us. Jesus had the glory that only the son of God can have and was full of grace and truth. In him we received unlimited grace. We know that through him, grace and truth came and through him, God was made known to the world.

Therefore verses 1-18 summarizes the whole of the gospel of John. From verse 19 onwards, we will be going into detail.

Father thank you for your word and bless all those that will be receiving this word, In Jesus name, Amen.

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